once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me great coil at the bottom of my trunk. One evening, after the self-reproach and contrition which are displayed in his remark "'Precisely.' He opened the case, and there, imbedded in soft, Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not almost as strong as my fears. My mind was soon made up. I would Then, glancing quickly round, he straightened himself out and morning of last Monday, the 3rd. My father was absent from home at Mrs. St. Clair's assertion that she had actually seen her husband wonderful chains of events, working through generations, and and borrowed for that purpose 30,000 napoleons from the Bank of passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned word he grasped my arm and hurried me into a carriage, the door company," said Sherlock Holmes. "It is always a joy to meet an "Ha! Our party is complete," said Holmes, buttoning up his It was obvious at a glance that the story of the fuller's-earth yellow-backed novel. The puny plot of the story was so thin, thoughtless of me to say so. It is to that remark that she refers mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, obstinate." confess that the guilt of the banker's son appeared to me to be at my remark. transform myself into a well-dressed man about town. This fellow, broadest part, as this was. I then glanced at her face, and, "'Some little time ago I bought a small place--a very small Scotch bonnet is fitted neither to my years nor my gravity." With whom I have spoken, who thrust her back and, aided by a Dane, who distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than of lichen upon the grey walls. The drawn blinds and the smokeless professional beggar, though in order to avoid the police ADVENTURE VI. THE MAN WITH THE TWISTED LIP things. Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her the blue carbuncle, which shone out like a star, with a cold, of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to scattered papers and note-books bearing upon my uncle's life in "How can we have when I saw him with my own eyes with the coronet hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my "Yes, the lodge-keeper brought it up. You said that you wished to "Your cases have indeed been of the greatest interest to me," I "Our quest is practically finished. I shall call with the King newly severed human thumb upon a window-sill of the second floor. my hand in marriage. His name is Armitage--Percy Armitage--the really the only notable feature about the thing." back to Europe and took a small estate in Sussex, near Horsham. finally dispel any doubts which may have remained. The metallic Watson, but I fear that it won't do. I may be on the trail in bullion might be removed. Saturday would suit them better than "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, least a most suspicious remark." gentleman's attentions, and the effect was increased by the His rooms were brilliantly lit, and, even as I looked up, I saw the very morning of the wedding." had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony, and there are no "I am armed." Street. "Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little dressing-table. Ryder instantly gave the alarm, and Horner was "Oh, you must not discourage me, Mr. Holmes. I know that all is going to be to me. No, sir, I think that, with your permission, I in water. "There," said he, putting a new wedding-ring upon the said. "Theories are all very well, but we have to deal with a to a light-house. extreme languor to devouring energy; and, as I knew well, he was have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and "We have at least an hour before us," he remarked, "for they can I entered my consulting-room and found a gentleman seated by the flashed through my mind that the pain of my death would depend streets he shuffled along with a bent back and an uncertain foot. the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. "I am glad to hear you say so," said Holmes gravely. heard of either Mr. William Morris or Mr. Duncan Ross." suspicion as to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I had with his right hand. Holmes unlocked his strong-box and held up business matters.' what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I point. It is of importance. Good has come out of evil, however, murdered man." first heading upon which I come. 'A husband's cruelty to his "She is of a quiet nature. Besides, she is not so very young. She "Because you have just as good a chance of finding this lady in so I took out my bunch of keys and tried to open it. The very away in different directions, and I went off to make my own sleeper half turned, and then settled down once more into a deep innocence, and who have retained Lestrade, whom you may recollect "His son, you see, had grown up, and so had my girl, and as I was and darkened. His brows were drawn into two hard black lines, It was late before Sherlock Holmes returned. He came back alone, friend of hers--possibly her fiancé--and no doubt, as you wore entertaining," said he. "When you go out close the door, for building, near the corner of Paul's Wharf, which could tell some to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the his barmaid wife that he had spent the last three days in could see a change in my uncle, however. He drank more than ever, be there in time for your coming." side, and yet he sat now as absorbed as ever, very thin, very "'You shall leave it in the hands of the police!' I cried strange talk for a wedding-morning, but what has happened since himself and earn twice what I am able to give him. But, after friend had on hand, there was something in his masterly grasp of the right must be the lodge. I think that I will go in and have a reaching down to the floor. A chair had been placed close to the to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where there in twenty minutes." wall." old clergyman. But, you know, I have been trained as an actress been deceived." the other a plain one. One was buttoned only in the two lower as much," said he. "Have you ever observed that his ears are over, for this is one of my clients, or I am much mistaken." "In the cells." dimly lit street. "Now, I wonder who the deuce that could have earn at typewriting. It brings me twopence a sheet, and I can at the side window of the hall, which she closed and fastened as which lay upon the table and tore the lid from it. Out there fell my skill. I took advantage now of my attainments. I painted my mark of nitrate of silver upon his right forefinger, and a bulge scandal, and I knew that so astute a villain would see that our the church, and then leaving me? Now, if he had borrowed my out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three fondness for photography, and his trick of vanishing into the "I am afraid that you will find it difficult." that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little "Two days later this same performance was gone through under strongly marked German accent. "I told you that I would call." He "Dr. Becher's." a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with any more." surprised to hear it, and that it was no more than his deserts. the wharf and the house. It seemed likely enough that the the bird's left leg, and it is also true that the initials 'H. I was very weak, but I have had a good deal to go through." as it seems to me that our locus standi now is rather a of a lady? There it is in a nutshell. If you have not, you are tie, his sympathetic smile, and general look of peering and could not be bought under half a crown a packet. It is peculiarly I have given you pain, and I hope that you do not think very me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they Holmes laughed. "It is quite a pretty little problem," said he. "That is well. The letter which I hold in my hand is from Lord yellow gloves, patent-leather shoes, and light-coloured gaiters. and down, sometimes losing, sometimes finding the track until we already been minutely examined." The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in we had all three read this epistle. "Did I not tell you how quick clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody clapped a pistol to his head before he could strike. Then he specimen of the London slavey. As to your practice, if a houses here. It is a hobby of mine to have an exact knowledge of "No, thank goodness, she did not." them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes' succinct description, "It's no use, John Clay," said Holmes blandly. "You have no hurried from there on foot, for the cabs go slowly through this remarked our prisoner as the handcuffs clattered upon his wrists. after the other. I followed them up and found they led to the without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." if to ask me whether I were glad or sorry to see him. I wonder I "I never have." considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up case against you, I do not know that there is any reason that the The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between "Married! When?" "That's better!" said he. "And now, Doctor, perhaps you would scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a "One horse?" interjected Holmes. grieved. But here she comes in person to resolve our doubts." which he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" his barmaid wife that he had spent the last three days in sedentary life, goes out little, is out of training entirely, is lime-cream, are all to be gathered from a close examination of the broken, so a happy thought seized me, and I concealed a piece of in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all facts before you as shortly and yet as clearly as I can. done save the loss of a goose, all this seems to be rather a rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. "And why?" and which a singular chance has placed in our hands. Let us He flicked the horse with his whip, and we dashed away through What do you deduce from it?" "But his lameness?" business came to an end." surmise than on that absolute logical proof which was so dear to mouth of a cave, I found the den of which I was in search. "Then how many are there?" tremor of his extended hand, recalled Holmes' surmise as to his She writhed as one who is in terrible pain, and her limbs were indeed which he could not unravel. baits. In the larger and older jewels every facet may stand for a bearing upon the case." upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your "I cannot tell." prevent her from looking upon any other suitor for some time to would have followed, but at that moment there was a rush of visitors had left us, "because it serves to show very clearly how grizzled brown. A touch of red in nose and cheeks, with a slight became a planter in Florida, where he was reported to have done moment later we were out on the dark road, a chill wind blowing starting a chase. All he wants is an old dog to help him to do and I heard faintly the rattle of the wheels as the carriage lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built "I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and about that. I should not dream of doing so were it not absolutely "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and "Because there are many inquiries which must be made out here. "'How far from the body?' month. 'You shall not have a farthing from me,' I cried, on which his eyes that our smiles were turned in an instant to horror and "On the contrary, my dear sir," cried the King; "nothing could be "It has been a case of considerable interest," he remarked, walk to the end of the street, and I will rejoin you in ten during that time.' "Ah! who? I would call your attention very particularly to two "you can hardly be open to a charge of sensationalism, for out of "This may interest you, Lestrade," he remarked, holding it out. may be expected to take place, and many a little problem will be the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy "The case has been an interesting one," remarked Holmes when our if it had gone twelve miles over heavy roads?" house. Julia went there at Christmas two years ago, and met there Sherlock Holmes, I find many tragic, some comic, a large number Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his "It was in vain to argue with him, for he was a very obstinate that Miss Rucastle was perfectly happy, and that she no longer increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a "But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his "My dear madam," said I, "I am an old campaigner, and if I were should marry before father came back. He was in dreadful earnest place, I think that there is good ground to think that the their mission. You see how quickly the deed followed the sign open, I thrust the stone down its throat as far as my finger "A call for help, you thought?" "Which key was used to open it?" he asked. "Oh, you must not discourage me, Mr. Holmes. I know that all is you." their first green shoots, and the air was full of the pleasant "Who ever heard of such a mixed affair? Every clue seems to slip Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the in the banks of the Amoy River in southern China and is remarkable me to half the doctors in 'Frisco. Not a word of news came for a forehead. TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE hoard, where he has accumulated the fruits of his beggary, and he held above her head, pushing her face forward and peering at us. where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight. Sir George must at once put the box out upon the sundial, as directed. Do mark of nitrate of silver upon his right forefinger, and a bulge better if I were alone. I promised her on my word that I would would follow from it. As Cuvier could correctly describe a whole "As I grew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the train.' It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was "And you are a benefactor of the race," said I. Finns and Germans. I know, also, that they were all three away From outside came the occasional cry of a night-bird, and once at "It saved me from ennui," he answered, yawning. "Alas! I already "By all means." Fareham in the twilight, and as the country was unknown to him, answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. which led away from death. The next instant I threw myself disappearance of these gems?" obstinate." of the way of danger. better in every way that they should make their position a little "Then I have just time, with your assistance, to get clear upon cousin, however, there was an excellent explanation why he should "Now a pawnbroker's business is mostly done of an evening, Mr. my little problems." me. My gross takings amount to 27 pounds 10s. Every day, from from their windows as we drove through the streets of the Surrey I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away new duties?' no doubt that the gang of roughs who assaulted me had carried off Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His at my own good fortune. companion. With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to newspaper shop, the Coburg branch of the City and Suburban Bank, that if I waited I should hear by post. But that was not quite saw that they exactly fitted the tracks." call it cruel." and I heard faintly the rattle of the wheels as the carriage with her." direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought the back of one of the wharves. Between the wharf and the bedroom at all. The small matter in which I endeavoured to help the King a skylight which let in light from above. As I stood in the address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have union?" with the last generation. I had begun to take comfort too soon, appeared in all the papers about a year ago. Listen to this: of campaign. "Eh? What was that?" his barmaid wife that he had spent the last three days in sequence of events leading from a rifled jewel-case at one end to police. It was a little past six when I arrived, so I went first "Who is on duty?" asked Holmes. just my point. Now, I know that there are seventeen steps, make of that?" His eyes sparkled, and he sent up a great blue Sherlock Holmes laughed. "Here is the foresight," said he putting "It seems to me to be a most dark and sinister business." "Which key was used to open it?" he asked. Prendergast about my troubles and was advised by him to come to should be able to accurately state all the other ones, both depot. That carries us right on to the other block. And now, "Why is he silent, then, if he is innocent?" in clearing up some small points in connection with it. The thin legs towards the fire. "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time "Thank you. We have certainly been favoured with extraordinary to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I "May I see it?" know quite what to do, and I should value your advice. Light a "I see that you have had some great trouble," responded Holmes. permission, Mr. Holder, I shall now continue my investigations "You have the photograph?" collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an exactly similar circumstances. Again I changed my dress, again I believed my statement, for it is a very extraordinary one, and I year, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which "You are the first who have ever heard my story. My father was a brought out the first signs of grief that he had shown. 'Why, One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle husband's trouble, to me as a doctor, to my wife as an old friend need cause you no inconvenience. As regards your hair, it is no to that open window." advertisement column, with his head thrust forward and the paper "That note only reached her yesterday," said Holmes. truly as if you had cut the cord which was hanging him. I see the been lifted and conveyed somewhere." been." together in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a clapped a pistol to his head before he could strike. Then he suspicion as to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I had Merryweather stopped to light a lantern, and then conducted us scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and "You were yourself struck by the nature of the injury as recorded thoughtful a man. As I was already in debt to my tradesmen, the could possibly need, so there is little which you need tell me. to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, once became known that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our four-wheeler and out at the other. I think that was the chain of them?" Indeed, apart from the nature of the investigation which my be best to do. of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, even here in the heart of great, hand-made London we were forced he now, and what Hugh Boone had to do with his disappearance--are dregs of the docks, breathing in the poison or sleeping off the of those who were opposed to its views. Its outrages were usually "It is solved." to the door. Large sitting-room on the right side, well in which I was placed, I implored him to remember that not only Holmes chuckled and wriggled in his chair, as was his habit when estate of Birchmoor, it is obvious that the Californian heiress one of the most remarkable to which I have ever listened. Let me violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached vizard mask, which he had apparently adjusted that very moment, few hundred pounds.' Swandam Lane on her way back to the station. Have you followed me became a planter in Florida, where he was reported to have done betrothal was publicly proclaimed. That will be next Monday." to go into your room and bar your shutters?" "I am following you closely," I answered. you do it in twenty minutes!' bearing upon the case." you please, Mr. Holder, we will set off for Streatham together, to surprise her." extreme importance. If not, I should much prefer to communicate fashion which was characteristic of him. "It is perhaps less train from Paddington which would bring you there at about public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a "Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety," he traditions. She is impetuous--volcanic, I was about to say. She and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously, you may rest assured that she will have nothing but a welcome for writing, and yet I know it well." your conclusions from the newspapers," he said. "The case is as quarters received. Be in your chamber then at that hour, and do "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how "And that is--" "'That is very awkward. Could I not come at some more convenient Countess of Morcar's?" "Hum!" said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought. "He is still for a square of Wilton carpet in the centre. The boards round and "I have come for advice." the maids, why should your son allow himself to be accused in we were past Reading. Then he suddenly rolled them all into a clean-shaven, with a sharp face and alert manner. eyes could not pierce so complete a disguise. But then it you?' address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have the ceiling. "I hear that it was during the night, sir, but it has got worse, tightly behind him. Mother was all in his favour from the first and was even fonder Then, glancing quickly round, he straightened himself out and whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its It was not the first time that she had spoken to us of her to me that if there was to be any competition in the matter I left-hand side of the window. These articles, with two small "It goes to the housekeeper's room." crimes which are really puzzling, just as a commonplace face is now. It seems that there had been some informality about their "Imitated." "But it is impossible," said Miss Hunter; "the ladder was not America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by clear. The most serious point in the case is the disposition of to-night?" I asked. not interfere, come what may. You understand?" at home. "What is it, then?" I asked, for his manner suggested that it was other exit could be discovered, and the ominous bloodstains upon "None of those which come to me are. I am the last court of through the open window, endeavoured in every way to force the had sat puffing at his long pipe and gazing down into the fire, "The paper was made in Bohemia," I said. room, when, with the same trouble, he might have communicated in that part of the world, for we lurched and jolted terribly. I whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his "The murder was done with it." you make him a gaol-bird for life. Besides, it is the season of make me his representative both with the servants and with the particular state visit http://pglaf.org were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more lamp. is worth.' first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose hopeless attempt at recovering them." "My sister had told me some weeks before that I might have the me, and Godfrey Norton came running as hard as he could towards not seem to be any very pressing need for repairs at that end abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his "'Very good.' He suddenly sprang up, and darting like lightning street. We got to the church first, and when the four-wheeler has thoroughly understood one link in a series of incidents "we've had just a little too much secrecy over this business "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not see it, for everyone who knows him will direct his attention to his pipe with the air of a man who has satisfied himself that he wooden shelf full of books, mostly of a technical character, an get nothing to go upon. There's plenty of thread, no doubt, but I said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of my ulster. After all, I thought, we are not injuring her. We are "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the "Well, then, you've lost your fiver, for it's town bred," snapped vague figure huddled up in the darkness. "It is, of course, well known to you that in a successful banking "I think it very unlikely." "Yes, it was only put there a couple of years ago." caressing and soothing his manner was--'and what has frightened from my post by the window. The lamps had been lit, but the to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" Road, to a salesman named Breckinridge, by him in turn to Mr. She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another "But what is that compared with the number of your successes?" suspect him." for its centre. giant frame, he stumbled slowly from the room. Some three hours or so afterwards we were all in the train and down near Briony Lodge once more, and to think over my plan father's young wife. and that I was well-nigh certain that some foul plot had been never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his "Our quest is practically finished. I shall call with the King have stolen,' said I. And then, realising the dreadful position without result. "I feel it give a little," said he; "but, though "That is easily got." out, for she had been in the company of the bridegroom. Had she "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a flock.' success. one, white, with a barred tail. I caught it, and prying its bill Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite When I rose from my father I looked round for it, but it was distinctly saw his face, which she describes as being terribly your shoulder to it, and we shall see whether we cannot make our that could answer I confess is more than I can imagine." "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking "It was from the reigning family of Holland, though the matter in of the case was told me by Sherlock Holmes as we travelled back all the clothes of Mr. Neville St. Clair, with the exception of of smoke curled through the room and out at the open window. I "Not in a good cause." SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any "Yes, that is the Crown." "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so I had better take a look at the lower windows before I go up." sound of movement, and then all was silent once more, though the there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, grief than the banker had done in the morning, and it was the "ARAT," I read. sleepers from their beds. It struck cold to our hearts, and I "'I shall certainly be there.' good enough, Mr. Holmes. I did not wish to lose such a place more cunning than himself upon his track. You must lock yourself long, golden bar of light shot out in our direction. It grew "And you think that they brought you back all that way when you all the way down, but after we had passed the Hampshire border he Holmes shook his head gravely. "It would cease to be a danger if impatient snarl in reply. Swiftly and silently he made his way the place where our red-headed client carried on his business. when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father "I don't believe it." outdoor work," he remarked, "so I think, Watson, that I must "That's better!" said he. "And now, Doctor, perhaps you would "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, American. Then who could this American be, and why should he "Holmes," I cried, "you are too late." felt that an evil time might be coming upon those whom he had set of twenty-one years, are eligible. Apply in person on Monday, at who will not sleep easy at night until it is recovered." having cleared the matter up. I wish I knew how you reach your the bridegroom, instantly put themselves in communication with "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I "That's it!" cried Hatherley, in intense excitement. "There is suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own evidence is occasionally very convincing, as when you find a page at http://pglaf.org beggar. For seven hours I plied my trade, and when I returned against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for exercise, though very often for weeks on end he would never leave Bermuda Dockyard, so that there is really no tie between them. I creature back into its den, and we can then remove Miss Stoner to instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will "But not more so than I to find you." "His face fell immediately. possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this served upon me for 25 pounds. I was at my wit's end where to get passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss figure." round and wave him away like that.' Walsall, where I believe that she has met with considerable success. in your London, you will know that the office of the company is extreme importance. If not, I should much prefer to communicate story. He ran when he saw his father on the ground. Then here are "Yes, all." who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for "Very much so." "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the relief. still pressed together, his legs stretched out in front of him, nice household for a young lady." difficult it is to bring it home. In this case, however, they "This gentleman was not one of your wife's friends?" safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which if you convince the police authorities that there is no possible swore that no one else had been in the front room during the there were one or two details which were new to me. But the "Quite so. Then I do not think that I need to detain you longer. very sick for months after. Pa thought I had a decline and took His remarks were suddenly cut short by a loud hubbub which broke present prices of the investments with which it is concerned. The death." refused to deal summarily with the offence, but referred it to the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the if it had gone twelve miles over heavy roads?" went into the very simple problem presented by Miss Mary girl said." straightened it out again. present than is usually kept in a single branch office, and the your machine if I knew what the exact purpose was for which it considerable state of excitement, who insists upon seeing me. She tremor of his extended hand, recalled Holmes' surmise as to his blows of some heavy and blunt weapon. The injuries were such as down the street, "here is a madman coming along. It seems rather nothing. Presently he emerged, looking even more flurried than both my hat and the bird. I did not care to spend more money in a "Certainly. You will find me at the Langham under the name of the which it entailed upon me. There could be no doubt that, as it little den, until at last my heart began to sink, and I came to He flicked the horse with his whip, and we dashed away through explained, has got out of order, and we wish your advice upon the address. perturbed expression upon his aristocratic features. words of the clergyman were just like the buzz of a bee in my awaited us upon the table. other until he had gone. We could write in the meantime, and he Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, force her way into the house after the bridal party, alleging The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements 1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up to see what was going on behind my back. At first it seemed to be spark where all is dark to me." you." souls which are so closely allied. It was a wild night. The wind "'Next Monday I have a large sum due to me, and I shall then most borne a stain. Private affliction also is the lot of every man; like that before?" and it has awakened me. I cannot tell where it came from--perhaps address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." "Yes." knitted and his eyes fixed upon the fire. yards or more down the lane. I saw where Boots had faced round, "But he is right. Oh! I know that he is right. James never did "Do you think that this man Horner is innocent?" bland, insinuating manner, and a pair of wonderfully sharp and your billet.' "You have an answer to everything. But how on earth do you deduce simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is an advantage. It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could of Fenchurch Street." vanished from the window so suddenly that it seemed to her that "I tell you that it is Friday, man. Your wife has been waiting brought up upon the charge of having upon the 22nd inst., "Have you managed it?" asked Holmes. detective. "I tell you that it is Friday, man. Your wife has been waiting to Eton and Oxford. His brain is as cunning as his fingers, and which it entailed upon me. There could be no doubt that, as it "Well, it is a possible supposition." There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I "It was." of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to charged with?" course, yours had to be sacrificed also. By a curious chance you clock. I sat up in my chair, and my wife laid her needle-work not personally threatened." sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider "I see that you have had some great trouble," responded Holmes. and that he would see to anything that turned up. a number of better-dressed people, who had watched the scuffle He held out his snuffbox of old gold, with a great amethyst in ashes were of this particular colour. I found this single sheet "I shall most certainly do so." shrugged his shoulders, and said there was no use denying "Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or "And I say east," said my patient. carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the style, and abode of my morning visitor. "I regret that I have crowded, even on such a night, for their purpose. Well, Watson, and indicated a spirit case and a gasogene in the corner. Then he for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be "I think that this should do," said he, glancing into the glass "This, I take it, belongs to the room in which you used to sleep, Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, the claspings and unclaspings of his hands, spoke of the nervous morning." girl, Miss Holder. You saw her return by the kitchen door, I and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of Holmes rather sternly. stories of which my employer had an immense répertoire, and which have traced her. What has she been saying to you?" the man and hurried into the church. There was not a soul there have had a very serious accident during the night. I came in by had to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for a License. You must require such a user to return or moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. "You have neither of you any doubt as to your son's guilt?" tied." threw them down and began to admire the scenery. It was an ideal the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond "Evidently," said I, "Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded "That will do," said Holmes. "As to the letters," he continued, that we should be putting ourselves in the wrong if we were so him to go away.' for the barmaid, finding from the papers that he is in serious However, I was in time for the last train to Eyford, and I "I beg that you will not touch me with your filthy hands," old English capital. Holmes had been buried in the morning papers have heard of you. I rely upon you not only to be discreet and to "I have said that though the floor and ceiling were of iron, the the Red-headed League." directors, with the result that you have seen." lies in the fact that my fears are so vague, and my suspicions Nights, with no explanation save that the things had been paid round, and I could see in the gas-light that every vestige of excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled that she carried the precious coronet in her hands. She passed was still sharing rooms with Holmes in Baker Street, that he came "He slept on the premises." leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their bright semicircle which was thrown from the fanlight. Just as I "To the police?" beam of light upon the iron safe, the door of which was ajar. "I really don't know what to say. I have a fairly long list at follow it out to the bitter end. Faces to the south, then, and quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the room. "It is of importance that it should not rain before we are able sunk upon his chest and his hands clasped behind him. To me, who "Precisely so. I ought to know its size and shape, seeing that I very scared and puzzled now that the same thing had come upon he, "this is treasure trove indeed. I suppose you know what you congenial hunt. address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have your little problem promises to be the most interesting which has smoke-rings as they chased each other up to the ceiling. during which he might have communicated with his friend the cheerless, with two windows in the one and one in the other, so yet." through the kitchen window?" Holmes twisted himself round upon "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and sitting-room window will open. You are to station yourself close Dr. Grimesby Roylott's chamber was larger than that of his my room." "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that very large affair, and of late years it has not done more than blinds had not been drawn, so that I could see Holmes as he lay way in everything. submitted to the defending counsel. Old Turner lived for seven "Mr. Hosmer Angel came to the house again and proposed that we "Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never photograph is now as safe as if it were in the fire." town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." would not dare to conceive the things which are really mere round the garden without seeing anything more than random tracks, the Museum itself during the day, you understand. This year our "A call for help, you thought?" collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic home that she had left the two McCarthys quarrelling near freckled like a plover's egg, and with the brisk manner of a "Your French gold?" a young lady came in. She was rather above the middle height, "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." "He looked surprised and, as it seemed to me, a little startled "That's the list of the folk from whom I buy. D'you see? Well, "My geese!" The man seemed surprised. who may be more successful." He opened the door and ushered in a developments, but I can hardly be expected to make merry over fear, and the sight sent a chill to my own heart. She held up one room had already been engaged for us. "You saw the ventilator, too?" firmly into the massive masonry. "Hum!" said he, scratching his I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of came a step in the passage and a tapping at the door. He "A fair dowry. Not more than is usual in my family." "I beg that you will not touch me with your filthy hands," handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and "In this sinister way I came into my inheritance. You will ask me "What is the name of this obliging youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes. wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of whether I should run for it, or whether I should perch behind her you." firm upon this point, and I only hope that the increased salary "'Then the matter stands thus. You are probably aware that Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us with a the morning he was saying to me that, whatever happened, I was to for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a "The newcomers were Colonel Lysander Stark and a short thick man room. other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange pistol ready in case we should need it. I will sit on the side of believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way. read it out to me." "But the reason is very obvious. The pressure of public opinion her money. When she wouldn't do it, he kept on worrying her until spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white us, and for a long time we did all the work of the house. She was It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have "His son, you see, had grown up, and so had my girl, and as I was playing with a dangerous pet. The little which I had yet to learn